Matthew 10:38

STILL GATHERING AT THE CROSS – OR MOVING ON?

(March 08, 2024) Dr Richard Winter reflects on Calvary’s cross…

At school we were required to understand the atlas, and remember continents, countries, capital cities, major rivers and  mountains. And we learned that before it was understood that the world is a globe, men who drew maps believed it was flat like a saucer and spun round a centre post. Interestingly, their central post was the cross of Calvary.

Now although such cartography belief was faulty, its central point belief was the pivot point of all Christian theology – the whole Christian world revolves round the cross of Christ!

In every nation, people of different races, colours, cultures, education, social and economic circumstances still believe Christ’s cross is the centre piece of their theology and eschatology.

(more…)

EXTRAORDINARY FAITH ACCOMPLISHES EXTRAORDINARY DEEDS!

(October 20, 2023) Angeline Selvakumari encourages us to achieve great accomplishments for God…

Jesus knew that attaining extraordinary faith is not possible through ordinary means – that’s why He promised the Holy Spirit, who will empower us to display our strength (faith).

Acts 1:8 states, ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.’ This gift of God gives you strength to be His witness, displaying your faith in every situation! On examining the lives of Jesus’ disciples, we observe a significant difference before and after they experienced the Holy Spirit. Peter, for example, had denied Jesus three times before a small number of people, but was enabled to boldly preach the good news to thousands.

Courageous faith
Where did Peter find this courage? The Holy Spirit’s enabling power as he moved in faith!

(more…)

WARNING! BEWARE OF –

(August 26, 2023) Richard Winter shares some warnings!

Warning signs are everywhere!

  • Beware of Imitations!
  • No Overtaking!
  • Beware of Dogs!
  • Warnings on cigarettes packs.
  • Warnings regarding toxic chemicals.
  • Warnings about poisons.
  • Warnings on storms, volcano eruptions and tsunamis.

Such warnings are helpful to protect and preserve life and property. But… more importantly, warnings about spiritual dangers should be constantly issued to people!

Acts 20:31 tells that when Paul was with the church at Ephesus for three years he warned them to beware of the devil’s deceptions.                                                                         

(more…)

DARK SHADOWS – GOD’S SHADOW OF LIGHT

(February 28, 2023) Brian Bell shares a timely meditation…

Standing Somewhere in the Shadows (that 1943 once very popular number by E J Rollings) came to me afresh recently…

Are your crosses too heavy to carry,
And burdens too heavy to bear;
Are there heartaches and tears and anguish
And there’s no one who seems to care?

Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus,
He’s the friend who always cares and understands.
Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him,
And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands.

Overshadowing darkness
Christians are called to carry crosses (Matthew 10:38, Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23) and as we do so, life can be shades of shadows at times! Praise God that our Saviour is there for us!

The reality is that it is not Jesus who is standing in the shadows, it is us – men and women ‘lost’ in the dark shadows of life.

(more…)

IT’S A WAR OUT THERE! (Meditations on Mark – 2)

(February 13, 2023) Richard Winter shares some salient facts…

The rumours had come in from a far-flung corner of the Roman empire…

  • There was trouble over a Jewish teacher who had apparently led a nonviolent campaign.
  • To stop the problems He had been crucified as a common criminal.
  • His friends and many others are saying He has come back to life – and has been seen walking around and gathering with crowds of people.

So what are the facts? Mark tells them rather simply…

(A continuous history which – if you follow – you will know how it all links together and how that Jewish Messiah will affect your life and others).

Seven facts…

1. New start
A guy had come baptising people who were repenting of their sins. Jesus was baptised… even though He had no sin! What Jesus was doing was demonstrating that all old ways of doing things either religiously or secularly needed to be buried and everyone can start a new spiritual life.

(more…)